Tufton hints at 2020 polls

Early elections may be in store for Jamaica, with at least one government official hinting that Jamaicans may be called to the polls as early as next year.

“So in terms of the 90-90-90,” Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said of the United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS initiative, “our data is suggesting that [Jamaica scored] 78 per cent.

“By the way, these targets are to be achieved by 2020. Which is, where are we now again? It’s a lot of things that’s gonna happen in 2020. Are you all enumerated?” the minister quipped.

The health minister was speaking at the official opening of the AIDS Health Foundation health centre on Hagley Park Road in St Andrew on Monday.

He also made a second reference to a possible general election in 2020.

“The question is, are we getting value for money, and what else needs to be done to strengthen it? And I think the time has come for that kind of analysis to be frank, to be open, to be deep, and we have to call it as we see.

“And I’m gonna be the first one to call it out. Is that good? I might lose some support in 2020 for it, but I have to do it anyway because it’s important because we cannot afford to lose this battle, ” the health minister said.